Huge queues for opening of new Morrisons

QUEUES stretched around the new Morrisons store in Eldene today as customers jostled to be the first through the doors.

The company has been working on the £15m superstore since September, and residents were on site from 9am to see it open.

Lyn Marshall, who lives in Eldene and works at the Liden library in Barrington Close, said: “People have been waiting a long time for a superstore on this side. Otherwise there is only the Co-op or we have to go to Sainsbury’s in Stratton.

“I think it will be very popular.”

The store has provided jobs for more than 220 people from the local area, 114 of whom were previously unemployed.

Former Swindon Town player Fraser Digby opened the new 25,000sq ft supermarket with MP for South Swindon, Robert Buckland.

The new Morrisons store is also a Craft Skills Academy, meaning many of its staff are trained in traditional skills including butchery, fishmongery, bakery and flower arranging.

Shoppers can see skilled staff working hard, with bakers kneading dough and butchers making fresh sausages on the counter.

Paul Raine, the store’s general manager, who worked at the Morrisons in Haydon Wick for a number of years, said: “The opening was fantastic. I was a bit surprised how many people came.

“I think many of the customers will be pleased about the cafe, since customers were always asking for one when I was working in Haydon Wick.

“Some of the staff have come over from the store but many others were recruited from the local area.

“The team has worked hard to train as specialists in areas such as wine, butchery and bakery and the fresh market concept means that many products are created by these specialists in-store each morning.”

In December 2012 Swindon Council gave planning permission for the supermarket, which also has 250 car parking spaces for customers, to be built on the former site of Dorcan House.

Customers can choose from at least 140 different cuts of meat in the butchery, 80 cheeses from around the world in the deli and up to 48 varieties of fresh baked goods from the bakery.

“When people spend money they want to have a good experience doing it, and I think this new store does that. My only concern is how are the Co-op and Morrisons going to operate being right back to back.”

Comments (20)

The co-op is clearly going to shut. I hope their staff were employed at Morrisons. This could have been agreed when the shop was planned between the council and Morrisons. Was it?
Customers won't care as they've been crying out for the new store

The co-op is clearly going to shut. I hope their staff were employed at Morrisons. This could have been agreed when the shop was planned between the council and Morrisons. Was it?
Customers won't care as they've been crying out for the new storeDavey Gravey

Great news for the area, for employment and real evidence of the council doing the necessary to facilitate progress.

If Co-Op offer decent produce and good service at a competitive price then they have nothing to fear.

Even Moaner Montaut appears to support the council's decision to grant planning permission and bring Morrisons to Eldene.

Great news for the area, for employment and real evidence of the council doing the necessary to facilitate progress.
If Co-Op offer decent produce and good service at a competitive price then they have nothing to fear.
Even Moaner Montaut appears to support the council's decision to grant planning permission and bring Morrisons to Eldene.ChannelX

ChannelX wrote:
Great news for the area, for employment and real evidence of the council doing the necessary to facilitate progress.

If Co-Op offer decent produce and good service at a competitive price then they have nothing to fear.

Even Moaner Montaut appears to support the council's decision to grant planning permission and bring Morrisons to Eldene.

Unfortunately the Co-op does none of those things... at least, the one in Old Town is just awful.

[quote][p][bold]ChannelX[/bold] wrote:
Great news for the area, for employment and real evidence of the council doing the necessary to facilitate progress.
If Co-Op offer decent produce and good service at a competitive price then they have nothing to fear.
Even Moaner Montaut appears to support the council's decision to grant planning permission and bring Morrisons to Eldene.[/p][/quote]Unfortunately the Co-op does none of those things... at least, the one in Old Town is just awful.benzss

Pointless clinging on to stores such as Co-Op that can't get the basics right. It does nobody any good.

The Coop in Peatmoor is great.

[quote][p][bold]ChannelX[/bold] wrote:
That was kind of my point.
Pointless clinging on to stores such as Co-Op that can't get the basics right. It does nobody any good.[/p][/quote]The Coop in Peatmoor is great.Wildwestener

Davey Gravey wrote:
The co-op is clearly going to shut. I hope their staff were employed at Morrisons. This could have been agreed when the shop was planned between the council and Morrisons. Was it?
Customers won't care as they've been crying out for the new store

It would appear that not all the staff at at Co-op have been offered jobs, some didn't even have the dignity of a reply following their application. And no I do not work at either shop but do talk to the staff as they have built up good relations with the locals.

[quote][p][bold]Davey Gravey[/bold] wrote:
The co-op is clearly going to shut. I hope their staff were employed at Morrisons. This could have been agreed when the shop was planned between the council and Morrisons. Was it?
Customers won't care as they've been crying out for the new store[/p][/quote]It would appear that not all the staff at at Co-op have been offered jobs, some didn't even have the dignity of a reply following their application. And no I do not work at either shop but do talk to the staff as they have built up good relations with the locals.Dick-Turpin

That is a shame. The council should have negotiated with Morrisons to guarantee jobs for the co-op workers. They will now be out of work whilst pathetic councillors used this development to try and score points against each other.

That is a shame. The council should have negotiated with Morrisons to guarantee jobs for the co-op workers. They will now be out of work whilst pathetic councillors used this development to try and score points against each other.Davey Gravey

Davey Gravey wrote:
That is a shame. The council should have negotiated with Morrisons to guarantee jobs for the co-op workers. They will now be out of work whilst pathetic councillors used this development to try and score points against each other.

dont think business works like that and surely it should be the best people for the job no matter what rather than all these special deals or circumstances, as a boss would you want to be told who you had to employ? we need more freedoms on employment not less.

[quote][p][bold]Davey Gravey[/bold] wrote:
That is a shame. The council should have negotiated with Morrisons to guarantee jobs for the co-op workers. They will now be out of work whilst pathetic councillors used this development to try and score points against each other.[/p][/quote]dont think business works like that and surely it should be the best people for the job no matter what rather than all these special deals or circumstances, as a boss would you want to be told who you had to employ? we need more freedoms on employment not less.house on the hill

Davey Gravey wrote:
That is a shame. The council should have negotiated with Morrisons to guarantee jobs for the co-op workers. They will now be out of work whilst pathetic councillors used this development to try and score points against each other.

Is it not possible for Co-Op workers to secure work anywhere other than the new supermarket next door to the one they used to work at?

They have known about Morrisons arriving for many months now, surely they've not just waited around hoping they'd get a job there?

[quote][p][bold]Davey Gravey[/bold] wrote:
That is a shame. The council should have negotiated with Morrisons to guarantee jobs for the co-op workers. They will now be out of work whilst pathetic councillors used this development to try and score points against each other.[/p][/quote]Is it not possible for Co-Op workers to secure work anywhere other than the new supermarket next door to the one they used to work at?
They have known about Morrisons arriving for many months now, surely they've not just waited around hoping they'd get a job there?ChannelX

Davey Gravey wrote:
That is a shame. The council should have negotiated with Morrisons to guarantee jobs for the co-op workers. They will now be out of work whilst pathetic councillors used this development to try and score points against each other.

I'm pretty sure that kind of thing isn't allowed anyway

[quote][p][bold]Davey Gravey[/bold] wrote:
That is a shame. The council should have negotiated with Morrisons to guarantee jobs for the co-op workers. They will now be out of work whilst pathetic councillors used this development to try and score points against each other.[/p][/quote]I'm pretty sure that kind of thing isn't allowed anywaybenzss

Davey Gravey wrote:
That is a shame. The council should have negotiated with Morrisons to guarantee jobs for the co-op workers. They will now be out of work whilst pathetic councillors used this development to try and score points against each other.

I'm pretty sure that kind of thing isn't allowed anyway

I'm starting to think Davey would feel much happier emigrating... Cuba seems a good fit.

[quote][p][bold]benzss[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Davey Gravey[/bold] wrote:
That is a shame. The council should have negotiated with Morrisons to guarantee jobs for the co-op workers. They will now be out of work whilst pathetic councillors used this development to try and score points against each other.[/p][/quote]I'm pretty sure that kind of thing isn't allowed anyway[/p][/quote]I'm starting to think Davey would feel much happier emigrating... Cuba seems a good fit.ChannelX

Davey Gravey wrote:
That is a shame. The council should have negotiated with Morrisons to guarantee jobs for the co-op workers. They will now be out of work whilst pathetic councillors used this development to try and score points against each other.

I'm pretty sure that kind of thing isn't allowed anyway

I'm starting to think Davey would feel much happier emigrating... Cuba seems a good fit.

Thumb fiddling fanatical Tory troll

[quote][p][bold]ChannelX[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]benzss[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Davey Gravey[/bold] wrote:
That is a shame. The council should have negotiated with Morrisons to guarantee jobs for the co-op workers. They will now be out of work whilst pathetic councillors used this development to try and score points against each other.[/p][/quote]I'm pretty sure that kind of thing isn't allowed anyway[/p][/quote]I'm starting to think Davey would feel much happier emigrating... Cuba seems a good fit.[/p][/quote]Thumb fiddling fanatical Tory trollDavey Gravey

Davey Gravey wrote:
That is a shame. The council should have negotiated with Morrisons to guarantee jobs for the co-op workers. They will now be out of work whilst pathetic councillors used this development to try and score points against each other.

I'm pretty sure that kind of thing isn't allowed anyway

I'm starting to think Davey would feel much happier emigrating... Cuba seems a good fit.

Thumb fiddling fanatical Tory troll

Calm down dear.

[quote][p][bold]Davey Gravey[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]ChannelX[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]benzss[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Davey Gravey[/bold] wrote:
That is a shame. The council should have negotiated with Morrisons to guarantee jobs for the co-op workers. They will now be out of work whilst pathetic councillors used this development to try and score points against each other.[/p][/quote]I'm pretty sure that kind of thing isn't allowed anyway[/p][/quote]I'm starting to think Davey would feel much happier emigrating... Cuba seems a good fit.[/p][/quote]Thumb fiddling fanatical Tory troll[/p][/quote]Calm down dear.ChannelX

Is it? At the prices they charge, they must be missing their target market then..

You're not wrong there!

[quote][p][bold]benzss[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Mango man[/bold] wrote:
Co-op is for poor people, end of[/p][/quote]Is it? At the prices they charge, they must be missing their target market then..[/p][/quote]You're not wrong there!The Jockster